Many thanks to all those who have assisted me in trying to locate the building in the picture that I have named ‘The Harpist’ . I have not been able to make any connection between Joseph Gale and Gales Breweries. Joseph’s father John was a bookseller living in the shadow of St Paul’s in Paternoster Row in London. Joseph lived all his life in London, and whilst working there as a surveyor and architect, his photography took him all over southern England.
Among his photos with locations that he identified, are several each from Cornwall and Sussex; several concerned with the Thames and others as diverse as Tewin, Eastling, and Isle of Wight. Of the unidentified locations I thought that ‘The Harpist’ may have been the easiest to investigate.
I have attempted to look at many of the older Corn Exchanges, trying to match these with market squares or nearby hotels, but even with the marvellous resources of ‘Google Earth’ and ‘street view’, it is a very daunting task from so far away. I have also been alert to the type of roof covering predominant in different areas, (as also with the roof pitch, height of the chimneys, wall construction, etc). Some areas are almost exclusively terracotta product, and not the grey shingle. It is also quite unusual for ‘town’ building to be freestanding with a hipped roof. Most ‘town’ buildings tend to be terrace type, with gables each end.
I’m still thinking that the window box decoration is significant, if not to the specific photo shoot, then to a seasonal festivity. None of the other buildings have similar decoration. Who knows, the building may no longer exist, and there may be no record on the internet of it's ever having been.
Thanks again for all of your replies. I shall continue to keep my eyes open as I do other (more important?) things.
